From Weedy Lot to Dream Gym: ECVA's New Home
Source: Montana Sports. Casualplayhub News adds summary, context, and editorial framing while linking back to the original report.
Just off Highway 87 in Great Falls, a patch of dirt choked with weeds is set to become the cornerstone of a growing volleyball community. Electric City Volleyball Academy (ECVA) plans to break ground on its own dedicated facility within a year, a leap forward for a club that has only existed for two seasons. For owner and program director Alax Grundy, the project represents years of vision, hard work, and a deep belief in the sport's power to shape young lives.
Grundy, whose day job is in construction, traces his passion for volleyball to his older sister. She played club volleyball in a town where such opportunities were scarce. "It wasn't offered where I grew up. I loved the sport," he recalls. That personal history fuels his determination to provide local athletes with a dedicated space to train and compete.
The location, a vacant lot near the highway, came together easily. The harder part was the financing. Rather than pass costs on to players' families, Grundy took an entrepreneurial approach. He launched an RV and trailer storage business on property right behind the future gym. "I'm a business owner, so I'm kind of a risk taker," he says. "I decided to start this to help fund a gym, so we're not raising costs for the families and for the girls."
The building itself carries a price tag of roughly $600,000. Plans call for two full-size volleyball courts, a weight room, bathrooms, gear storage, and spectator seating. Grundy emphasizes that the facility is about more than square footage—it provides much-needed stability. "Right now we're at the mercy of everyone else's schedule," he explains. "It will be a wonderful thing to have some stability for our teams and for our families."
Since its founding two years ago, ECVA has already made an impression. Grundy speaks with evident pride about the athletes who have come through the program. "Each and every one of those girls on each of those teams really impressed me," he says. "They carried themselves well, they push themselves hard. And, you know, we found success."
Yet success isn't defined solely by college scholarships. Grundy is clear about the club's larger mission. "We really started the club to better our community," he says. "Not everyone will go on to play college volleyball, but every one of our athletes will be an adult, and I want good adults in my community." That philosophy resonates in every decision, from keeping costs low to investing in a permanent home that will serve local families for years to come.
Article commentary
The Electric City Volleyball Academy's plan to build a dedicated facility in Great Falls reflects a growing trend in youth sports: the shift from renting borrowed space to owning a permanent home. For a club only two years old, this move is ambitious, yet the strategy behind it is remarkably pragmatic. Owner Alax Grundy's dual role as a construction professional and entrepreneur allows him to design and fund the project with minimal financial strain on families. His decision to launch a storage business alongside the gym is a creative solution that many small sports organizations could learn from. From a community perspective, the new gym addresses a critical need. Great Falls, like many mid-sized towns, faces a shortage of affordable indoor sports facilities. Schools and community centers are often booked months in advance, forcing clubs to practice late at night or travel long distances. ECVA's dedicated space will not only relieve that pressure but also create a hub for youth development. The inclusion of a weight room and spectator seating indicates a long-term vision—this is not just a practice space but a venue for tournaments and events that could attract visitors to the area. Grundy's emphasis on character over college recruitment is noteworthy. Too often, club sports are criticized for prioritizing elite competition over broad participation. ECVA's stated goal of producing "good adults" rather than merely college athletes signals a healthier approach to youth athletics. It acknowledges that for most participants, sport is a vehicle for life skills like discipline, teamwork, and resilience. Challenges remain, of course. The $600,000 price tag is substantial for a two-year-old club, and construction timelines can slip. Grundy's reliance on his own business to fund the project introduces risk—if the storage venture falters, the gym could face delays. But his track record in construction and his willingness to invest personal resources suggest a strong commitment. The broader lesson here is about sustainability in youth sports. Rather than passing rising costs to families—a common complaint in club volleyball—Grundy has found a way to generate revenue internally. It's a model that could be replicated by other sports organizations in rural and suburban areas. If successful, Electric City Volleyball Academy's dirt lot may indeed become a dream facility, not just for volleyball, but for what it represents: a community-centered, financially smart approach to building the next generation.